Lifting equipment on a UK ship is not covered by LOLER 1998. It is covered by a separate set of regulations made for ships, with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's guidance note MGN 332 explaining how they work. The rules look familiar to anyone who knows LOLER, but there are differences that catch people out: a five yearly test, a 28 day deadline for the certificate, and a register of lifting appliances kept on board. This guide sets them out in plain English.
In short: The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006 apply to lifting equipment on UK ships. Lifting equipment must be tested by a competent person at least every 5 years, thoroughly examined at least every 12 months (every 6 months for equipment lifting people and for lifting accessories), and a certificate must be obtained within 28 days of each test or examination. Certificates and reports stay on board for at least two years after the next one. MGN 332 (M+F) is the MCA's guidance, last amended in January 2026.
Which rules apply where
| Where the equipment is | Regulations that apply |
|---|---|
| On a UK ship or fishing vessel, including in port | Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006, with MGN 332 |
| Shore-side cranes, dockside equipment, workshops | LOLER 1998 and PUWER 1998 |
| Offshore installations on the UK continental shelf | LOLER 1998 and PUWER 1998, with HSE guidance HSG221 |
The 2006 regulations were made under the Merchant Shipping Act and came into force on 24 November 2006. They sit alongside the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Provision and Use of Work Equipment) Regulations 2006, covered by MGN 331, which do for ships what PUWER does ashore.
The duties, regulation by regulation
Regulation 11, testing. Ship's lifting equipment, other than an accessory for lifting, must have been suitably tested by a competent person within the preceding five years. MGN 332 says five years is the maximum interval unless the manufacturer states a shorter one. This is the biggest difference from shore-side LOLER, which has no fixed testing cycle.
Regulation 12, thorough examination. Lifting equipment used for lifting persons, and accessories for lifting, must be thoroughly examined at least every 6 months. Other lifting equipment must be examined at least every 12 months. An examination scheme can set different intervals, and an examination is required after any exceptional circumstance that could affect safety.
Regulation 13, certificates. For UK ships, a certificate must be obtained within 28 days of a test or thorough examination. MGN 332 describes 28 days as the absolute maximum.
Regulation 14, reports and defects. A report from the competent person is required after each examination, and defects must be notified promptly so they can be put right.
Regulation 15, records. Certificates and reports are kept on board for at least two years after the next test or examination.
The register. MGN 332 (section 5.3) says all vessels other than fishing vessels should keep a register of lifting appliances and loose gear, based on the ILO model set out in the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers. Port state inspectors and surveyors ask for it.
Who counts as a competent person
The 2006 regulations define a competent person as someone with the knowledge or experience needed to perform the duty. MGN 332, as amended in January 2026, adds some practical guidance:
- Crew members with suitable knowledge can carry out routine inspections.
- Annual thorough examinations and five yearly tests need a competent person, usually from a company that specialises in testing and examining lifting equipment.
- A Certificate of Competency on its own does not make an officer a competent person for this purpose.
- In-house examiners are acceptable if they are independent of the equipment's operation and maintenance, and have the authority to make sure tests are properly done.
What goes in the register
For each appliance and each item of loose gear, the register should record:
- Identification number and description
- Safe working load
- Date and result of the last test, and who carried it out
- Date and result of each thorough examination
- Defects found and when they were put right
- The next due date for the test and for the examination
Loose gear is where registers fall apart. Slings, shackles and wire rope pennants move between decks, get re-certified at different times and are easy to lose track of. Each item needs its own identity and its own line in the register.
Keeping it straight across a fleet
A superintendent responsible for several vessels needs to see, from the office, what is due on each one before the vessel sails. LolerFlow treats each vessel as a site and each deck or module as a location, so every crane, davit, padeye, sling and shackle sits in one register with its own test and examination dates, and the full lifting register for any vessel can be produced in one report for a surveyor or a class visit.
Sources
- The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/2184), legislation.gov.uk
- MGN 332 (M+F) Amendment 4, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, published 7 January 2026, gov.uk
- MGN 331 (M+F), Provision and use of work equipment regulations 2006, Maritime and Coastguard Agency
- Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers, Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Frequently asked questions
Does LOLER 1998 apply on ships?
Not on UK ships. Lifting equipment on a UK ship is covered by the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006. LOLER 1998 applies ashore and on offshore installations.
How often must a ship's crane be tested?
At least every 5 years by a competent person, or more often if the manufacturer says so. This is in addition to the thorough examination at least every 12 months.
How often are slings and shackles examined on board?
At least every 6 months, as accessories for lifting. They also need a test certificate from the manufacturer or a competent person.
What is the 28 day rule?
On a UK ship a certificate must be obtained within 28 days of a test or thorough examination. MGN 332 calls this the absolute maximum, so most operators arrange for the certificate to be issued on completion.
Do fishing vessels need a register of lifting appliances?
MGN 332 says all vessels other than fishing vessels should keep a register. Fishing vessels are still covered by the testing and examination duties, and need to keep the certificates and reports on board.